Notre Dame has to join a conference going forward

[Mullet Vol]

The deal with ND is still based on a subjective ranking. If the playoffs committee doesn’t think the Irish are worthy they can just bump them down to number 13 in the final rankings.

 

[DC_Vol]

Not sure but the article which said ND declined the bowl bid seemed to indicate that the ND agreement was a done deal for 2026. I think it preceded the current negotiations.

Some feel this will force the field to 14 teams or more.

14 teams

A 4 team playoff is all that is required to ensure the best team in college football gets a shot at the championship. That was the original stated goal of a playoff system.

Won’t be long before people are clamoring for the entire Top 25 to be included.

 

[Visidog]

14 teams

A 4 team playoff is all that is required to ensure the best team in college football gets a shot at the championship. That was the original stated goal of a playoff system.

Won’t be long before people are clamoring for the entire Top 25 to be included.

Seems like 4 would have been plenty this year.

 

[JMSqb11]

14 teams

A 4 team playoff is all that is required to ensure the best team in college football gets a shot at the championship. That was the original stated goal of a playoff system.

Won’t be long before people are clamoring for the entire Top 25 to be included.

Also another thing that seems awful.

First round this year is December 20th

Semis on January 9th


Dragging this out is not the great bargain people think.

It really should be 6-8 teams. They went full blown moronic with 12

 

[sami]

Seems like 4 would have been plenty this year.

Four would be plenty every year.

And for the arguments about 'leaving someone out', look what's going on now and will still be going on when they expand this silly thing to 24 teams eventually.

 

[VolPack22]

Totally agree with inflated self value, but if that's the case why wouldn't they join a conference? As inflated as Penn State's view of themselves might be, they joined the Big 18. At some point, Notre Dame will be squeezed the same way, I would think.

They claim they were denied entry by Michigan back in the 1920s but they need to stop using that as an excuse. It’s been over 100 years people. Time to get with the times

 

[Brandon88]

ND don't even get to play in a bowl game.

 

[GVF]

The ACC can simply pull their teams from giving Notre Dame P4 opponents to play. Notre Dame being the ACC also elevates that conference.

If the P4 conferences decided to collude against them and not allow any of their teams to schedule them, all they can do is play 12 G5 schools. That’s not getting them into the playoff.

They already have a bevy of G5 programs masquerading as P4 teams in the ACC. Don't see how it helps ND's schedule as is.

 

[GVF]

Originally, they wanted a way to get all of the P5 teams in the mix and also satisfy a G5 team that was undefeated and maybe good. Then the conferences expanded, and it became P4 and the G5. They could easily now connect back to the championship games for the P4 conferences .... yes, make the teams win their conference, give the top 2 a bye and have two teams at large - one for a G5 Team and one for the top ranked team that did not win their championship. That allows an independent like ND a spot.

Folks would still argue but at least the selection is objective and pushes the conference championship games back to the forefront.

Does it end up with the teams that folks may think are the best - no - but it does put the value back on a team winning their conference.

If they did that this year the following would be in as conference champs - and NO ONE would like it at all.

- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Duke

And this would be the other two teams.
- Tulane (G5)
- Ohio State (highest rank)

The bowl games then have good matchups again and championship games matter. You could probably add two more and still ensure you got the "best" when you had a Duke happen.

But my bet is that rather than backing up we will go to 14 or 16 next year - making this worse rather than better. Now teams are trying to avoid a 4 loss as 3 loss teams will get in.

24 team FCS model, no bowls. Solves all problems except the 25th ranked team complaints. Put up or shut up.

 

[S.C. OrangeMan]

For those wondering…



I don’t understand how this type of deal is possible

Miami and Bama were both raked ahead of ND.

There is no incentive for ND to join a conference with tougher competition, more travel, and the possibility of jet injuries and/or a loss in a conference championship game.